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Airport Operators Association

Environmental Guidance Manual

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will circulate the Airport Operators Association environmental guidance manual to airports in the UK. [154526]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: The Airport Operators Association (AOA) environmental guidance manual is a private publication. Circulation is a matter for the AOA. I understand that AOA members have been sent copies of the manual.

Aviation Personnel (Drug Tests)

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce alcohol and drug testing for aviation personnel; and if he will make a statement. [154540]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: The Queen's speech on 6 December announced the Government's intention to draft a Safety Bill. We will use this opportunity to introduce a prescribed blood/alcohol limit for safety critical personnel in aviation, and to take permissive powers to allow testing for drugs.

We propose to set a 20 milligram per 100 millilitre blood/alcohol limit for aircraft crew, air traffic controllers and aircraft maintenance engineers, while also granting to the police the necessary powers to test suspected offenders. This limit is in line with an agreed Joint Aviation Requirement for aircrew and will apply equally to safety critical aviation personnel in the commercial and leisure sectors, and to those people flying or working with aircraft in their free time. It also reflects the positive responses to a Government consultation paper issued in July 1996, which proposed this limit.

It will continue to be a criminal offence to be engaged in an aviation related activity while unfit though the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is our belief that these proposals will further enhance safety in our skies.

Housing Renewal Grants

Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to take forward reform of the private sector housing renewal grants regime. [154541]

Mr. Raynsford: My Department has today published a consultation paper outlining how we propose to proceed with our reforms of the legislation governing housing renewal by local authorities.

19 Mar 2001 : Column: 27W

The reforms will replace many of the detailed restrictions that govern local authorities' activity, with a general power which will be subject to only limited constraints. In doing so, we aim to enable authorities to take a more strategic approach to housing renewal, respond more effectively to the housing and market conditions in their areas and to reinforce homeowners' own responsibilities towards the upkeep of their homes. Homeowners and disabled people will benefit from a wider choice of support to carry out essential repairs and adaptations to their homes.

Responses are invited by 29 June 2001. Subject to the outcome of the consultation and the approval of the Regulatory Reform Bill now before Parliament, we plan to implement the reforms through a Regulatory Reform Order.

Green Policies

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department's Greening Operations Annual report for 1999-2000 will be published. [154771]

Ms Beverley Hughes: I have today published the DETR Green Minister's Annual Report 2000. This incorporates Greening Operations data for the year 1999-2000 but also covers other aspects of my responsibilities for greening government and promoting sustainable development within the Department. The Report has been independently verified.

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out his proposals for making the United Kingdom a showcase for environmental protection and environmental technologies. [154197]

Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply

The Government's aim is for the UK to become a leading player in the new markets for green energy and products, waste minimisation, recycling and re-use. The Prime Minister's speeches in October and March, the White Paper "Opportunity for all" and Budget 2001 further develop and take forward this new approach through a range of existing and new measures to boost UK industrial and research capabilities and capacity in cutting-edge sustainable technologies and know-how. Recent announcements include:

A total of over £250 million over the next three years for investment in renewable energy and renewables R&D to help industry meet our target of 10 per cent. of our electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2010. Moreover, with the introduction of the Renewables Obligation, the Government will be aiming to provide an assured market for renewable energy over the next 25 years. Business can also take advantage of the levy exemptions, which apply to electricity sourced from new renewable sources or from quality assured combined heat and power plants.

The ground breaking 'Carbon Trust' which brings together--for the first time in Europe--a fully integrated programme of incentives worth up to £150 million annually on low carbon technology and business energy efficiency

The Budget measures following the Government's 'Green Fuel Challenge', including the 20p per litre reduction in fuel duty on bio-diesel; the 9p per kilo reduction for road fuel gases; and the pilot projects and duty reductions or exemptions for bio-ethanol, methanol and bio-gas

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A proposal to consult on setting up a 'Green Technology Challenge (GTC)', with the intention of offering enhanced first-year capital allowances for further environmental objectives and new technologies. The GTC will also be designed to complement the steps being taken as a result of the 'Green Fuels Challenge'.

This investment represents a significant commitment to a sustainable future, and will help open up substantial commercial opportunities for Britain.

M25

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what basis sites were selected for the roadshow presentations on the London Orbital Study. [153960]

Mr. Hill: Sites for the Orbit study mobile exhibitions were identified by the study consultants and approved by the Steering Group for the study. The consultants were asked to identify ten sites which would provide broad coverage of the M25 transport corridor, be accessible to people living in the corridor, and enable M25 users to visit with ease. The final list of sites was influenced by availability and by the ease of obtaining necessary permissions.

Woodland

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional action he has taken to provide specific funds in the last 12 months for (a) woodland creation and (b) to reverse the fragmentation of ancient woodland. [153682]

Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.

In the past 12 months, we have announced that, through the England rural development programme, we will provide about £70 million in planting grants under the woodland grant scheme to encourage the creation of new woodland over the next seven years and about £77 million in payments under the farm woodland premium scheme. In addition, we have given the commission an additional £9.4 million from the capital modernisation fund to create 1,000 hectares of new woodland in the community forests.

We also launched the JIGSAW challenge last year, a £5 million initiative which offers grants to encourage landowners to establish new woodland which will connect isolated areas of ancient semi-natural woodland. Reversing the fragmentation of existing native woodland is one of the aims of our England forestry strategy.

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has through the felling licence system to restrict further the removal of young trees, shrubs and undergrowth from areas of ancient woodland; and if he will make a statement. [153681]

Mr. Morley: I have been asked to reply.

We have no plans to change the felling licence regulations to restrict the removal of young trees, shrubs and undergrowth from areas of ancient woodland. Protecting and enhancing these woodlands is, however, a key aim of the England forestry strategy. The forestry forum, which I set up to oversee the implementation of the strategy, has recently made several recommendations

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for improving the protection of ancient woodland, and we are currently considering what further action needs to be taken.

TREASURY

Central Computer and

Telecommunications Agency

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue CCTA have raised through commissions paid on sales facilitated by (a) G-cat and (b) S-cat in each of the last five financial years; [151535]

(2) what proportion of orders placed through (a) G-cat and (b) S-cat have exceeded £200,000 in the last year for which figures are available. [151534]

Mr. Andrew Smith [holding answers 27 February 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Bob Assirati to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 15 March 2001:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your two recent Parliamentary Questions (Ref: 151534, 151535) about GCat and S-CAT. The information you have requested is given below.

For the year up to 31 December 2000, approximately 0.25% of GCat orders (1 in every 400) exceeded £200k in value. The equivalent figure for S-CAT was 3.5% (1 in 33).

The revenues received by CCTA on sales through these schemes for each of the last 5 years is as follows:

£000

Financial year	GCat	S-CAT
2000-01 (up to 31/12/2000)	855.8	1,471
1999-2000	1,248	1,285.5
1998-99	990.7	563
1997-98	561.8	20.3
1996-97	244.8	0

As a self-funding executive agency it is a requirement that the total costs of procurement and contract management are recovered in full. The term revenue in this context relates to the charges levied to contractors to cover these expenses.
Due to the recent variations in volume of business, a revenue review of GCat and S-CAT is being conducted.
General information about income and expenditure related to the services provided by CCTA, including catalogue services, was set out in their last Annual Report and Accounts for 1999-2000, copies of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the largest contract is that has been placed through (a) G-cat and (b) S-cat; and if he will make a statement; [151578]

(2) what assessment he has made of the benefits that Government Departments realise through the use of G-cat and S-cat; [151579]

(3) what assessment he has made of the compliance of G-cat and S-cat with EC tendering legislation. [151580]

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Mr. Andrew Smith [holding answer 1 March 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Bob Assirati to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 15 March 2001:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your 3 Parliamentary Questions about GCat and S-CAT (Ref: 151578, 151579, 151580). The information you have requested is given below.

You asked what assessment has been made of the compliance of GCat and S-CAT with EC tendering legislation. An assessment of compliance with the EC procurement rules was made by CCTA before the GCat and S-CAT framework contracts were awarded. Following the establishment of the Office of Government Commerce (with effect from 1 April 2000) further reviews have confirmed the view that both GCat and S-CAT are compliant with the EC rules.

You also asked what the largest contracts are which have been placed through GCat and S-CAT respectively and if a statement can be made. It is a feature of these schemes that customer organisations contract direct with their selected prime contractors. It is not therefore appropriate for CCTA to give details regarding individual contracts to which we are not party as there may be commercial or contractual sensitivities of which we are unaware. However, in terms of contractual value, the largest individual customer orders placed so far through GCat and S-CAT are valued at £2.5 million and £17.8 million respectively.

Finally you asked what assessments have been made of the benefits that Government departments realise through the use of GCat and S-CAT. In general the benefits gained from these framework contracts are:

Compliance with EC procurement procedures

Reduced procurement timescales and costs

Economy-of-scale pricing

Simplified ordering with e-procurement facilities

Sound contractual protection

The quantification and aggregation of these benefits is not a straightforward process as different customers derive differing degrees of benefit according to their own circumstances. However CCTA have estimated that savings during the first 5 years from GCat and S-CAT are approximately £30 million and £3.5 million respectively. The 1999 NAO Report on Modernising Procurement contains further detailed analysis of the CGat efficiency savings.

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